Visor



Patented Oct. 10, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VISOR Frederick J.Westrope, Pleasant Ridge, Mich., as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to F. L. Jacobs Co., a corporation ofMichigan Application May 26, 1941, serial No. 395,142

22 Claims.

This invention relates to visors or glare shields and particularly toVisors or glare shields which swing around an axis as well as slidelongitudinally along the axis.

One object of this; invention is to provide a visor or glare shieldhaving a panel which swings around a rod and alsoslides longitudinallyalong the rod, means being provided externally of the Visor tube forexerting a frictional holding effect for holding the panel in itsadjusted position.

Another object is to provide a visor or glare shield supported on a rodwhich has means at th'e outer end of the rod cooperating with thebracket for applying friction to the rod to hold Vitin an adjustedposition obtained by swinging the glare shield or visor around the axisof the rod,

Another object is to provide a visor or glare shield as set forth in thepreceding object wherein the bracket and supporting rod are providedwith mating external and internal conical surfaces, together withresilient means for maintaining these surfaces in frictional engagement.

Another object is to provide a visor or glare shield having means at theouter end of the supporting rod cooperating with a support t'o provide a`swinging frictional holding effect, and wherein separate means isprovided within the visor tube surrounding the rod for exerting alongitudinal frictional effect, so that the' visor may be held in itsadjusted position either when it is swung around the axis of the rod orslid along the rod.

Another object is to provide a visor or glare shield wherein a bracketand a support are provided with mating internal and external conicalsurfaces and wherein the support and the visor supporting rod are `alsoprovided with mating internal and external conical surfaces,l the twosets of conical surfaces being arranged at an angle to each other sothat one set provides for swinging around an axis, whereas the other setprovides for swinging around another axis in a different direction.

Another object is to provide a visor or glare shield as set forth in theobject immediately preceding, wherein the axis of the two sets of matingconical surfaces are substantially at right angles toxeachlother andwherein resilient means is provided for urging vthe conical surfaces ofeach set into frictional engagement. v

Another object is to provide a visor or glare shield wherein the visorsupporting rod has longitudinally extending surfaces at an angle to eachother and engaged by' elongated springs within the visorsupportingltubeso V4as to provide for frictional sliding engagementtherebetween.Y l

Another object is to provide a visor or glare shield as set forth in theobjectimmediately preceding wherein one or more stops are provided forlimiting the sliding motion of the visor along the rod.

In the drawing: i V Figure 1 is a front elevation of a preferred ein#bodiment of the visor of this invention, with the Visor support and thetube Ipartlyfiri section. y

Figure 2 is a partial Yt'o'p plan View of the visor Shown in Figure 1. yi

Figure 3 is a vertical section along the line 3`3 inrigure 2. e y eFigure 4 is a vertical cross Section along the lined-4 in Figure 1. A

Figure 5 is a vertical cross section along the line 5-5 in Figure 1. Y,

In general, the visor or glare` shield o'f this 4invention i's intendedAto. provide means external of the visor` supporting tube 'and rod forprovidT ing rotational friction so as to holdv the visor panel vin itsadjusted 'position 'of swinging around the rod. Hitherto, such frictionhas been exerted by springs and other devices `within the visor tube,but the space for such devices is so cramped rthat the devices havegiven unsatisfactory service. Some of them have been Subject to rattlingafter the visor had been in service for a certain length of time, and inother.visors the amount of friction exerted was uncertain, so that onevisor would swing too easily while "another one would swing with toomuch diiiiculty. Additional difli'- culties arose when it was attemptedto enable the visor to slide longitudinally lalong its supporting rod aswell as swing around the axis thereof. The constricted space inside thevisor tube proved to be inadequate to properly apply a suicient amountof friction to hold the visor in its adjusted position both along therod andI around it.

According to the present invention, the end of the visor supporting rodoutside the visor supporting tube to which the visor panel is attachedis provided with a conically tapered end which mates with a conicallytapered bore in a visor support, the two being urged into friction'alengagement by a coil spring within the support. The support ispreferably provided with a conically tapered surface at an angle to itsconically tapered bore, this conically tapered surface mating with aconically tapered bore inthe visor bracket by which the visor isattached to a vehicle. By this means the rod may be rotated providedwith two elongated surfaces at an angle` Y to each other, these beingengaged by two elongated springs attached to and extending within:v

the visor tube to which the visor panel is attached. These springs exerta frictional eifect upon the rod so that the visor tube and its Y panelare held in any position to which they may be'slid along the rod. One ormorev stops are provided to limit the motion of vthe visor along itssupporting rod.

Referring to the drawing in detail, Figure 1 shows a preferredembodiment of the visor or glare shield of this invention as consistingof a bracket generally designated I0, a visor support generallydesignated II, a visor supporting rod generally designated I2, a visorsupporting tube generally designated I3, and a visor panel generallydesignated I4. The'bracket I0 is provided with a base plate I5 by whichit may be mounted upon the header or other suitable portion of a vehicletop, such as by bolts or screws. Extending at an angle to the baseplate' I5 (Figure 1) is a boss IS containing an internal conical boreI1.' The visor support II is provided with a conically tapered portionI8 corresponding to and mating with the internal conical bore I1 andurged into frictional *engagement therewith by a coil spring I9 disposedbe- .tween one end of the boss I6 and a washer 2I held against theenlarged end 22 of the shank 23 extending outwardly fromcthe taperedportion I3. By this means, the support II may be swung relatively to thebracket I3 and frictionally held in the adjusted position;

The visor support II is provided with an internalV conical bore 24 withits axis atan angle to the'axis of the conically tapered portion I8,preferably at right vangles thereto. The bore 24- receives acorrespondingly conically tapered portion 25 forming one end of thevisor supporting rod I2 and provided with a threaded bore 26 receiving ascrew 21 serving as an abutment for a coil spring 28 mounted in acounterbore 29 and abutting the inner end 3Q thereof. HIn `this mannerthe visor supporting rod may be swung or turned relatively to thesupport I I and yieldingly and frictionally-.held in the adjusted Yposition, this adjustment being independent of `the frictionaladjustment between the visor sup- 'port II and bracket I0 and around adifferent axis.

The visor supporting rod I2 is provided with a main portion 3| squarecross section (Figures 4 and 5) and having flat elongated surfaces 32thereon. The end of the rod I2 opposite its tapered portion 25 isprovided with a notch 33 having a shoulder 34 serving as a stopthe endsurface 35 ofthe rod I2 ralso serving as a stop in a manner herein-'after set forth.

Surrounding the vsquared. portion 3I of the visor supporting rod I2 isthe visor supporting tube I3, which is internally of approximately'square cross section corresponding to and mating preferably ofsubstantially with the square portion 3| of the visor supporting rod I2.For this purpose, the visor supporting tube I3 is provided with upperportions 36 and 31 and lower portions 38 and 39 (Figure 5) terminatingin the mutually engaging parallel portions 4i) and 4I which are securedto each other, as by welding. The portionv 40 is provided with anextension flange or lip 42 serving for the attachment of the framemember 43 over which the covering 44 of the visor panel I4 is mounted.The frame 43 may likewise be secured to the flange 42 by welding.

The upper surfaces 36 and 31 of the visor supporting tube I3 are bentupwardly and outwardly as at 45 (Figures 4 and 5) to providelongitudinally elongated pockets 46 serving to receive undulating orserpentine springs 41 housed therein and frictionally engaging thethrough an aperture 53 into the pocket 46 where its undulations 54frictionally engage the flattened surfaces 32 of the square rod I2.

The free end 55 of the spring 41 is bent relatively thereto and isguided by an aperture 56 formed in the upper surface of the tube I3. Thelatter is also provided with an inwardly extending portion 51 struck outof the aperture 58 and serving to engage the end 35 of the rod I2 to actas a stop to limit the motion of the visor toward the bracket I0. Thebent end 55 of the spring 41 similarly acts as a stop when it engagesthe Wall 34 of the notch 33 to limit the motion of the visor away fromthe bracket IIl (Figure 3).

In the operation of the visor, the operator may swing the entireassembly around the axis of the bracket bore I1 in order to move thevisor panel I4 from its position adjacent the windshield to a positionadjacent the side window of the vehicle. supporting rod I2 may be swungaround the axis of the visor support I I by the engagement of theconical frictional surfaces 24 and 25, the friction serving to hold thevisor panel I4 in the position to which it has been swung. Thus, by thismotion, the visor may be raised or lowered so that it screens out therays of the rising or setting sun or of approaching vehicles while atthe same time permitting the operator to look in other directions.

Finally, the operator may slide the panel I4 and visortube I3 bodilyalong the squared portion 3I of the visor-supporting rod I2, therebymoving the visor panel I4 along the windshield or window in order tobring it into a screening position against glare coming from differentangles relatively'to the windshield or window. The undulating orserpentine springs 41 engage the squared shaft and exert a` frictionaleffect which holds the Visor panel I4 in its adjusted position. If thelatter is pushed too far to the left (Figures 1 and 3), the inwardlystruck portion 51 engages the end 35 of the rod I 2 and halts themotion. Similarly, if the visor panel I4 is moved too far to the right,the bent portions 55 The visor panel I4, its tube I3, and itsY oflthe`undulating springs 41 slide downwardly into 'the notches 33 intoengagement with the shoulders 34, halting the motion.` Theundulatingsprings '41 exert frictional effects at a plurality of locations alongthe rod I2 and thereby' effectively prevent rattling as the vehicle isdriven over rough roads.

In practice, the visor tube I3 of approximately square cross section ismade slightly larger than the cross-sectional dimensions of ,the Visorsupporting rod I2 so that slight clearances 59 and 60 will occur insidethe visor tube adjacent the top ridge 6I thereof (Figures 4 and 5).These clearances allow for warping as well as for manufacturingvariations.

It will be understood that the longitudinally sliding provisions of thevisormay be omitted, if desired, and the swinging motion alone permittedbetween the visor supporting rod I2 and the visor support II on the onehand and between thevisor support II and the'visor bracket I0 on theother hand. Y

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described andillustrated, it will be understood that various modifications may bemade within the scope of the appended claims WithoutA and said visorsupport having mutually engag' ing frictional surfaces disposed withtheir axis at an angle to the axis of the bracketfriction'al surface,the frictional surface of said rod being co-extensive therewith, springmeans for urgingv the frictional surfaces together, at least one of saidspring means being concealed, and a visor connected to said visorsupporting rod, one'of said spring means encircling said co-extensivefriction surface for urging said second-mentioned frictional surfacestogether.

2. In a visor structure, a bracket and a visor support having mutuallyengaging frictional surfaces, a visor supporting rod having aco-extensive tapered friction surface, said visor support having amutually engaging frictional surface `disposed with its axis at an angleto the axis ofthe bracket frictional surface, concealed spring meansencircling the cci-extensive friction surface for drawing the saidfrictional'surfaces together, a visor connected to said visor supportingrod, and resilient means within the confines of the bracketffor urgingsaid bracket and visor support frictional surfaces into frictionalengagement.

3. In a visor structure, a bracket and a visor support having mutuallyengaging frictional surfaces, a visor supporting rod havingaco-extensive tapered frictional surface, said visor support having abore with a tapered frictional surface to receive said co-extensivetapered surface disposed with its axis at an angle to the axis of thebracket frictional surface, concealed spring means encircling saidtapered co-extensive surface of said rod for drawing the saidVfrictional surfaces together, and a visor connected to said Visorsupporting rod, at least one set of said mutually engaging 'frictionalsurfaces comprising mating conical surfaces, said spring means being:

within-the confines of the visor support;

4. In a visor structure,l a bracket and a visor support having mutuallyengaging frictional surfaces, a visor supporting rod having acoextensive tapered portion at one end thereof, said visor supporthaving a bore with a, conical frictional' surface for receiving saidco-extensive tapered portion, said co-extensive tapered portion and saidbore being disposed with their axis .at an angle to the axis of thebracket frictional surface, concealed resilient means encircling theco-extensive tapered portion for urging the frictional surfacestogether, and a visor connectedV to said visor supporting rod, saidspring means being located within an enlarged portion of said bore. Y

5. In a visor structure, a bracket and a visor support having mutuallyengaging conical frictional surfaces, a visorl supporting rod having acoextensive tapered end portion, said visor support having a bore with aconical frictional surface to receive said co-extensive tapered endportion, said end portion and bore being disposed with their axis atan'angle to the axis of the frictional surface ofthe bracket and visor,concealed spring means located in an enlarged portion of said bore forurging the frictional surfaces of the rod and visor support together,said spring means being located within the confines of the visorsupport, spring means for urg port having a tapered bore'for thereception of said end portion, said tapered end portion of the rod andtapered bore providing mutually en-v gaging surfaces'disposed with theiraxis atan angle to the axis of the frictional surfaces of the bracketand visor support, concealed spring means located in an enlarged portionof said bore for urging the frictional surfaces thereof together, saidspring means being located within the' confines of the visor support,spring means.

for urging the first-mentioned mutually engaging surfaces together, andavisor connected to said visor supporting rod, the axes of the two setsof said frictional surfaces being disposed substantially at right anglesto each other.

7. In a visor structure, a bracket and a visor support having mutuallyengaging conical fric'- tional surfaces, a visor supporting rod having aco-extensive tapered end portion, said visor support having a taperedbore to receive said ta-l pered rod end portion, said co-extensivetapered end portion and tapered bore providing mutually engaging conicalfrictional vsurfaces disposed with their axis at an angle to the axis ofthe bracket frictional surface, concealed spring means located Within anenlarged portion of said bore for urging the frictional surfaces thereoftogether, spring means for urging the rstmentioned mutually engagingsurfaces together,

and a visor connected to said visor supporting` rod, said concealedspring means being within` the connes ofthe Visor support for urgingthe: frictional surfaces of said tapered end portions,

and tapered bore into frictional engagement.

8. In a visor structure, a visor support having a tapered bore, a visorsupporting rod having a co-extensive tapered end portion for receptionin said bore, said tapered bore and end portion forming mutuallyengaging frictional surfaces for retaining said rod in a predeterminedposition, concealed spring means encircling said tapered end portionlocated Within an enlarged portion of said bore for drawing saidfrictional surfaces together, said spring means being located within theconnes of the visor support, and a visor connected to said visorsupporting rod longitudinally of said frictional surfaces.

9. l'n a visor structure, a visorV support having a tapered bore and avisor supporting rod hav-l ing a tapered bore, a visor supporting rodreceived in said bore having a co-extensive tapered portion extending tothe 'end thereof, said coextensive tapered portion and said tapered boreAdefining mutually engaging frictional surfaces,

a visor connected to said visor supporting rod longitudinally of saidfrictional surfaces, and concealed resilient means within the confinesof the Vsupport and located in an enlarged portion of said boreforurging said frictional surfaces into frictional engagement. 11. In avisor structure, a visor support having a tapered bore, a visorsupporting rod having a co-extensive tapered portion extending in thedirection of the end thereof received in said bore, said tapered portionand bore defining mutually engaging conical frictional surfaces,concealed spring means for urging said conical frictional surfacestogether, and a visor connected to said visor supporting rod externallyand longitudinally of said frictional surfaces, said conical surfacesbeing disposed substantially co-axially with 'said rod and said springmeans being located wholly within the confines of the visor support inan enlarged portion of said bore. Y

l2. In a visor structure, a-visor support having a tapered bore, a visorsupporting rod having a co-extensive tapered end portion received insaid bore, said bore and end portion dening mutually' engaging conicalfrictional surfaces, a visor slidably connected to said visor supporting`rod externally and longitudinally of said frictional surfaces, saidconical surfaces being disposed substantially co-axially with saidrod,and concealed resilient spring means for urging said frictional surfacesinto frictional engagement, said spring means being located within theconfines of the Visor support and in an enlarged portion of said bore. Yf

13. In a visor structure, a visor support having a tapered bore, a visorsupporting rod having a tapered end portion extending in the directionof termination, said tapered bore and tapered end defining mutuallyengaging frictional surfaces, concealed spring means located in anenlarged portion of said bore forV urging said frictional surfacestogether, a visor supporting tube mounted on said rod for sliding motiontherealong and swinging motion therewith -and dis-l posed longitudinallyof said frictional surfaces, and a visor connected to said visorsupporting tube whereby sliding movement of the visor in ing a taperedbore, a visor supporting rod having a tapered end portion extending inthe di-A rection of termination, said tapered bore and tapered enddefining mutually engaging frictional surfaces, concealedY spring meanslocated inan enlarged portion of said bore for urging said frictionalAsurfaces together, said rod having a longitudinally elongated attenedsurface therealong, a visor supporting tube mounted on said rod forsliding motion therealong and swinging movement therewith and disposedlongitudinally of said frictional surfaces whereby sliding movement ofthe visor tube in one direction will tend to move said frictionalsurfaces apart to facilitate rotational adjustment, and a visorconnected to-said visor supporting tube.

1,5. In a visor structure, a visor support having a tapered bore, avisor supporting rod having a tapered portion extending in the directionof the end of said rod, said tapered rod being adapted to be received insaid bore and defining mutually engaging frictionall surfaces, concealedspring means located in an enlarged portion of said bore for urging thefrictional surfaces together, said rod having a longitudinally elongatedflattened surface therealong, a visor supporting tube mounted on saidrod for sliding motion therealong and swinging movement therewith anddisposed longitudinally of said frictional surfaces whereby slidingmovement of said tube in one direction will urge said fricf tionalsurfaces apart for rotational adjustment,

` bore for urging the frictional surfaces together,

said rod having a longitudinally elongated flattened surface therealong,a visor supporting tube mounted on said rod for sliding motion there-Valong and swinging movement therewith, and disposed longitudinally ofsaid frictional surfaces whereby sliding motion of said tube in onedirection will urge said frictional surfaces apart for rotationaladjustment, a visor connected to said visor supporting tube, andresilient means within said tube and engaging said rod for frictionallyholding the tube in its adjusted position, said tube havingl a flattenedportion engaging thev attened portion of said rod whereby topreventrelative rotation therebetween.V Y

17. In a visor structure, a visor support having a tapered bore, a visorsupporting rod having a tapered portion extending in the direction ofthe end ,of said rod, said tapered rod being adapted to be received insaid'bore and defining mutually engaging frictional surfaces, concealedspring means locatedV in an enlarged portion of said bore for urging thefrictional surfaces together, a visor supporting tube mounted on saidrod for sliding motion therealong and swinging movement therewith anddisposed longitudinally of said frictional surfaces whereby slidingmovement of said tube will urge said frictional surfaces apart toVfacilitate rotational adjustment,

2,sco,1 s3

a visor connected to said visor supporting tube, and an undulatingspring disposed between said tube and said rod for frictionally holdingthe tube in its adjusted position.

18. In a visor structure, a visor support having a tapered bore, a visorsupporting rod having a tapered portion extending in the direction ofthe end of said rod, said tapered rod being adapted to be received insaid bore and defining mutually engaging frictional surfaces, concealedspring means located in an enlarged portion of said bore for urging thefrictional surfaces together, a visor supporting tube mounted on saidrod for sliding motion therealong and swinging movement therewithwhereby sliding movement of said tube in one direction will urge saidfrictional surfaces apart to facilitate rotational adjustment, said rodhaving longitudinally elongated flattened surfaces disposed at an angleto each other, means disposed between said tube and said flattenedsurfaces for preventing relative rotation therebetween, resilient meansdisposed between said tube and rod for frictionally holding the same inlongitudinal adjustment, and a visor connected to said visor supportingtube.

19. In a visor structure, a visor support having `a tapered bore, avisor supporting rod having a tapered portion extending in the directionof the end of said rod, said tapered rod being adapted to be received insaid bore and defining mutually engaging conical frictional surfaces,concealed spring means located in an enlarged portion of said taperedbore for urging said surfaces into frictional engagement, said rodhaving an elongated portion, a visor supporting tube mounted forfrictional sliding motion along said elongated rod portion, and meansfor preventing relative rotation between said rod and tube, said tubewhen slidably moved in one direction being adapted to urge the conicalfrictional surfaces apart to facilitate rotational adjustment.

20. In a visor structure, a visor support having a tapered bore, a visorsupporting rod having a tapered portion extending in the direction ofone end of said rod, said tapered rod being adapted to be received insaid bore and forming mutually engaging frictional surfaces, concealedspring means located in an enlarged portion of said bore for urging saidsurfaces into frictional engagement, said rod having an elongatedportion, a

visor supporting tube mounted for sliding motion along said elongatedrod portion, means for preventing relative rotation between said rod andtube whereby sliding movement of said tube in one direction will urgesaid frictional surfaces apart to facilitate rotational adjustmentbetween the visor support and visor supporting rod, said visor supporthaving a conical friction surface with its axis at an angle to themutual frictional surfaces of the tapered portion of the visorsupporting rod and tapered bore, and a bracket having a conical frictionsurface mating with the last-mentioned conical friction surface on saidvisor support, and spring means for urging said last-mentionedfrictional surfaces together.

21. In a visor structure, a visor support having a tapered bore, a visorsupporting rod having a tapered portion extending in the direction ofone end of said rod, said tapered rod being adapted to be received insaid bore and defining mutually engaging frictional surfaces, concealedspring means located in an enlarged portion of said bore for urging thesurfaces into frictional engagement, a visor supporting tube mounted onsaid rod for sliding motion therealong and disposed longitudinally ofsaid frictional surfaces, a visor connected to said visor supportingtube, and a friction spring disposed between said tube and said rodwhereby sliding movement of said tube in one direction will urge saidfrictional surfaces apart to facilitate rotational adjustment of the rodwith respect to the visor support, said tube and said rod havingmutually contacting longitudinally-flattened portions whereby to takethe torsional load off said spring while turning the visor around itsaxis.

22. In a visor structure, a visor support having a tapered boreterminating at one end in an enlarged recess, a visor supporting rodhaving a co-extensive tapered portion at one end thereof, said bore andtapered portion defining mutually engaging surfaces, a coil springmounted in said enlarged bore portion for urging said mutual engagingsurfaces axially into frictional contact, a visor supporting tubemounted on said rod for sliding motion therealong and disposedlongitudinally of said frictional surfaces, a visor connected to saidvisor supporting tube, and an elongated friction spring disposed betweensaid tube and said rod whereby sliding movement of said tube in onedirection will urge said frictional surfaces apart to facilitaterotational adjustment of the rod with respect to the visor support, saidtube and said rod having mating longitudinal ridge portions and mutuallyengaging longitudinal flat surfaces adjacent thereto, whereby to takethe torsional load olf said elongated spring while turning the visoraround its axis.

FREDERICK J. WESTROPE.

